U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Nearly $746,000 in Cocaine at Brownsville Port of Entry

Release Date:

October 31, 2013

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Gateway International Bridge this weekend intercepted cocaine valued at approximately $745,600 hidden within a Dodge Dakota.

"Our frontline CBP officers intercepted more than 23 pounds of alleged cocaine. This alleged load of cocaine will not reach our city streets thanks in large part to the outstanding work by our CBP officers at the Brownsville Port of Entry. I congratulate our officers for their unwavering and persistent work ethic," said Michael Freeman, CBP port director, Brownsville Port of Entry.

On Tuesday, October 29, at the Gateway International Bridge CBP officers came in contact with a 2004 Dodge Dakota being driven by a 24-year-old male United States citizen who resides in Fort Worth, Texas. A primary CBP officer referred the Dodge and its occupant for a secondary examination. In secondary CBP officers discovered 13 packages hidden within the vehicle dashboard area. CBP officers removed the packages containing approximately 10.58 kilograms (23.3 pounds) of alleged cocaine from the Dodge Dakota.

The alleged cocaine from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $745,600. CBP officers turned the driver over to U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.